Victoria is hoping to strike the right chord with B.C.’s music industry with additional funding.
The provincial government announced Thursday (Dec. 20) it’s committing $900,000 in grants to 28 music companies.
Grants range from $5,000 to $75,000 and cover 50 per cent of projects, which include anything from studio upgrades to software development
While Vancouver is the centre of B.C.’s music industry, funding is going to 10 projects outside the city proper.
Among the recipients is Clampdown Record Pressing Inc., which is using a $75,000 grant to purchase and set up vinyl record-pressing equipment ahead of a planned launch early next year in Vancouver.
Hipposonic Music Ltd. in Vancouver — known for clients such as Black Mountain, The Mars Volta, and Tegan and Sara — is taking $75,000 as well to add a second studio to its Mount Pleasant facility.
Mosa Music in Victoria will receive $35,000 to help with the development and marketing of its Mubric music-learning software.
Also on Vancouver Island is Tickit, a Courtenay-based company that’s receiving a $65,000 grant for its ticketing platform for live music.
In Prince George, Sound Factory will be getting $6,025 for the replacement of audio production equipment.
The provincial funding comes via the one-year, $7.5-million Amplify B.C. program announced in March.
The previous B.C. Liberal government rolled out a similar two-year, $15-million music fund in February 2016 following recommendations from a Music Canada report.
Amplify B.C. is administered by Creative B.C., the Crown agency charged with promoting the province’s entertainment sectors such as film and TV.
Creative B.C. CEO Prem Gill told BIV in March that her organization would be providing the government with all the material needed to evaluate whether the Amplify B.C. fund would support the industry beyond March 2019.
In addition to the 28 music businesses that have received funding, Creative B.C.’s website indicates it has funded an additional 75 music projects focused on artists through Amplify B.C.
Those grants range from $1,680 to $35,000.
-Tyler Orton, Business in Vancouver
